89 — 99
A 33-22 hole turned into a halftime lead
Las Vegas controlled the opening quarter. The Aces turned an 8-8 tie into a 26-18 edge by the end of the first, with Chelsea Gray scoring from deep twice late in the period and Jackie Young adding an early three and a layup. When Jewell Loyd opened the second quarter with another three-pointer, Indiana was down 29-18 and looked in danger of spending the night chasing the game.
Instead, the Fever produced the stretch that decided the shape of the evening. Gray's pull-up jumper at 7:34 of the second quarter pushed the Aces ahead 33-22, but Indiana answered with a 26-10 run to close the half. Clark scored at the rim and from outside, Boston finished repeatedly in the lane, and Kelsey Mitchell supplied timely scoring on the perimeter. By the time Raven Johnson scored at the buzzer, the Fever had flipped the scoreboard and carried a 48-43 lead into the break.
Clark created the pace, Boston punished the gaps
Indiana's offence was at its best when the ball kept moving and Boston was available at the end of the possession. The Fever finished with 22 assists and shot better than 52 per cent from the field, while Boston delivered 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting and added five assists of her own. Her work around the basket mattered even more against an Aces team that usually makes paint touches expensive.
Clark gave the performance its shape. She finished with 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds, and the scoring log showed how varied the night was: a 28-foot three in the opening minute, repeated feeds to Boston in the second and third quarters, then a 31-foot make late in the third when Las Vegas was trying to stay attached. She also kept Mitchell involved, and Mitchell responded with 25 points, including three made threes and a string of free throws in the fourth.
The third quarter underlined how difficult Indiana was to cover once its main actions started working together. Las Vegas trimmed the margin to 58-50 and then 60-54, but the Fever answered with Boston scores inside, Mitchell free throws and Clark's long three from 31 feet at 1:58. Mitchell's 26-footer with four seconds left in the quarter pushed Indiana to 72-57 before Young hit back from deep at the horn, leaving the Aces down 72-60 but still within reach.
Young's surge gave Las Vegas one more chance
The Aces did not disappear quietly. Young was their sharpest scorer all night, finishing with 31 points, and she drove the fourth-quarter push. Las Vegas cut a 74-60 deficit to 76-73 by the 7:34 mark, with Young piling up free throws and another three while Loyd connected from long range as well. For a few minutes, the game looked ready to swing back.
Indiana's response was immediate and, for Las Vegas, damaging. Lexie Hull scored on a reverse layup, Mitchell added two trips to the line, and Boston converted again inside. Then came the cleanest closing sequence of the night: Clark drilled a 27-foot three at 4:56, then a 30-foot step-back at 4:30, stretching the lead from seven to 11 at 90-79. Wilson kept scoring at the line and finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, but Boston's layups at 2:57 and 1:52 helped keep the Fever in front for good.
Our take
This result was built less on one hot streak than on a full offensive profile Indiana can trust. The Fever got 58 points in the paint, shot efficiently, and had three central creators or finishers in Clark, Boston and Mitchell. That is a sturdy formula. The obvious area to clean up is the foul line, where Indiana left points available on a night when it generated plenty of chances. For Las Vegas, the warning signs were clearer: 31 from Young and a heavy free-throw advantage kept the Aces close, but conceding 58 paint points and more than 52 per cent shooting is too much to absorb. If the Aces are looking for the most immediate fix from this box score, it starts with making the interior less comfortable and forcing more possessions away from Boston's preferred areas.
Scoring moments
- 1st Quarter · 9:45
Caitlin Clark makes 28-foot three pointer (Aliyah Boston assists)
- 1st Quarter · 9:23
A'ja Wilson makes 19-foot jumper (Jackie Young assists)
- 1st Quarter · 8:57
Stephanie Talbot makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 8:27
Caitlin Clark makes free throw 1 of 3
- 1st Quarter · 8:27
Caitlin Clark makes free throw 2 of 3
- 1st Quarter · 8:27
Caitlin Clark makes free throw 3 of 3
- 1st Quarter · 7:29
Chelsea Gray makes 24-foot three pointer (Stephanie Talbot assists)
- 1st Quarter · 7:19
Makayla Timpson makes 2-foot layup (Aliyah Boston assists)
- 1st Quarter · 5:22
Jackie Young makes running layup
- 1st Quarter · 5:09
Makayla Timpson makes 2-foot layup (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 1st Quarter · 4:49
Jackie Young makes 25-foot three pointer
- 1st Quarter · 4:14
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus makes driving layup (Chelsea Gray assists)
- 1st Quarter · 3:56
Kelsey Mitchell makes 23-foot three point jumper (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 1st Quarter · 3:23
A'ja Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 3:23
A'ja Wilson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 2:39
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus makes 7-foot two point shot
- 1st Quarter · 2:36
Caitlin Clark makes free throw 1 of 1
- 1st Quarter · 1:59
Kelsey Mitchell makes layup (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 1st Quarter · 1:35
A'ja Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 1:35
A'ja Wilson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 1:16
Jewell Loyd makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 1:16
Jewell Loyd makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 1:02
Kelsey Mitchell makes 3-foot two point shot
- 1st Quarter · 40.9
Chelsea Gray makes 12-foot pullup jump shot
- 1st Quarter · 10.5
Chelsea Gray makes 28-foot three pointer
- 2nd Quarter · 9:40
Jewell Loyd makes 26-foot three point jumper (Chelsea Gray assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 9:00
Makayla Timpson makes two point shot (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 8:12
Aliyah Boston makes running layup (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 7:55
Stephanie Talbot makes layup (A'ja Wilson assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 7:34
Chelsea Gray makes 17-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Quarter · 7:26
Caitlin Clark makes two point shot
- 2nd Quarter · 6:48
Caitlin Clark makes driving layup
- 2nd Quarter · 5:59
Aliyah Boston makes 7-foot floating jump shot (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 5:25
Caitlin Clark makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Quarter · 5:00
Stephanie Talbot makes 3-foot layup (Jackie Young assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 4:25
A'ja Wilson makes 17-foot jumper (Jackie Young assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 4:13
Kelsey Mitchell makes 23-foot three pointer
- 2nd Quarter · 3:50
Monique Billings makes two point shot
- 2nd Quarter · 3:25
Kelsey Mitchell makes 1-foot layup (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 3:07
A'ja Wilson makes 3-foot layup (Chelsea Gray assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 2:48
Raven Johnson makes driving layup (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 2:29
Aliyah Boston makes 2-foot layup (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 1:56
Aliyah Boston makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 1:56
Aliyah Boston makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 1:17
Raven Johnson makes 5-foot floating jump shot (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 56.2
Stephanie Talbot makes 5-foot jumper (A'ja Wilson assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 32.0
Jackie Young makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 32.0
Jackie Young makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 0.0
Raven Johnson makes 3-foot two point shot (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 9:45
Jackie Young makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 9:45
Jackie Young makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 9:32
Aliyah Boston makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 8:49
Lexie Hull makes 2-foot two point shot (Aliyah Boston assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 7:59
Jackie Young makes running layup (Chelsea Gray assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 7:03
Caitlin Clark makes running layup
- 3rd Quarter · 5:28
Caitlin Clark makes driving layup
- 3rd Quarter · 5:09
Aliyah Boston makes 2-foot layup (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 4:45
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jackie Young assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 4:30
Myisha Hines-Allen makes two point shot
- 3rd Quarter · 4:22
Jackie Young makes 26-foot three pointer
- 3rd Quarter · 3:59
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 2:50
Aliyah Boston makes two point shot
- 3rd Quarter · 2:21
Kelsey Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 2:21
Kelsey Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 1:58
Caitlin Clark makes 31-foot running jump shot (Myisha Hines-Allen assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 1:05
Aliyah Boston makes 3-foot layup (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 45.6
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 18.7
Jackie Young makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 18.7
Jackie Young makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 4.0
Kelsey Mitchell makes 26-foot three pointer
- 3rd Quarter · 0.8
Jackie Young makes 24-foot three pointer (Jewell Loyd assists)
- 4th Quarter · 9:42
Sophie Cunningham makes 11-foot driving floating jump shot (Lexie Hull assists)
- 4th Quarter · 9:22
Jackie Young makes free throw 1 of 3
- 4th Quarter · 9:22
Jackie Young makes free throw 2 of 3
- 4th Quarter · 9:22
Jackie Young makes free throw 3 of 3
- 4th Quarter · 8:57
Kelsey Mitchell makes two point shot
- 4th Quarter · 8:45
A'ja Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 8:45
A'ja Wilson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 8:22
Jackie Young makes 24-foot three pointer (Chelsea Gray assists)
- 4th Quarter · 8:00
Jewell Loyd makes 22-foot three point jumper (Chelsea Gray assists)
- 4th Quarter · 7:34
Jackie Young makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 7:34
Jackie Young makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 7:10
Lexie Hull makes 4-foot reverse layup
- 4th Quarter · 6:38
Kelsey Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 6:38
Kelsey Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 6:27
Jackie Young makes 13-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter · 6:08
Kelsey Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 6:08
Kelsey Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 5:30
Aliyah Boston makes driving layup
- 4th Quarter · 5:12
A'ja Wilson makes layup (Chelsea Gray assists)
- 4th Quarter · 4:56
Caitlin Clark makes 27-foot three point jumper (Aliyah Boston assists)
- 4th Quarter · 4:43
Jackie Young makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 4:43
Jackie Young makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 4:30
Caitlin Clark makes 30-foot three point step back jumpshot (Aliyah Boston assists)
- 4th Quarter · 4:10
A'ja Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 4:10
A'ja Wilson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 3:44
Stephanie Talbot makes two point shot (Jewell Loyd assists)
- 4th Quarter · 2:57
Aliyah Boston makes layup (Caitlin Clark assists)
- 4th Quarter · 2:45
A'ja Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 2:45
A'ja Wilson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 2:11
A'ja Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 2:11
A'ja Wilson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 1:52
Aliyah Boston makes driving layup
- 4th Quarter · 1:17
Sophie Cunningham makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 1:17
Sophie Cunningham makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 54.0
Kelsey Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 54.0
Kelsey Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 49.5
A'ja Wilson makes driving layup (Jackie Young assists)
- 4th Quarter · 44.1
Kelsey Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 2
Las Vegas Aces — Players
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephanie Talbot | 27 | 9 | 4-6 | 0-2 | 1-2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -7 |
| Brianna Turner | 8 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -4 |
| A'ja Wilson | 34 | 22 | 5-11 | 0-1 | 12-13 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | -16 |
| Chelsea Gray | 37 | 10 | 4-11 | 2-7 | 0-0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -10 |
| Jackie Young | 36 | 31 | 7-19 | 4-9 | 13-13 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -11 |
| Cheyenne Parker-Tyus | 15 | 9 | 3-5 | 1-2 | 2-4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | +1 |
| Kierstan Bell | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kalani Brown | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jewell Loyd | 31 | 8 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 2-2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | +1 |
| Justine Pissott | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mai Yamamoto | 10 | 0 | 0-3 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 |
Indiana Fever — Players
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makayla Timpson | 9 | 6 | 3-6 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | -2 |
| Aliyah Boston | 30 | 22 | 10-15 | 0-1 | 2-6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | +13 |
| Kelsey Mitchell | 34 | 26 | 7-16 | 3-4 | 9-11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | +3 |
| Lexie Hull | 26 | 4 | 2-5 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | +9 |
| Caitlin Clark | 33 | 27 | 9-18 | 5-11 | 4-4 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | +15 |
| Myisha Hines-Allen | 13 | 2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | +3 |
| Monique Billings | 9 | 2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -5 |
| Sophie Cunningham | 23 | 4 | 1-4 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -1 |
| Raven Johnson | 22 | 6 | 3-5 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +15 |
Las Vegas Aces — Team statistics
| FG | 25-59 |
|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 42 |
| 3PT | 9-28 |
| Three Point % | 32 |
| FT | 30-34 |
| Free Throw % | 88 |
| Rebounds | 30 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 7 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 23 |
| Assists | 17 |
| Steals | 9 |
| Blocks | 4 |
| Turnovers | 11 |
| Team Turnovers | 1 |
| Total Turnovers | 12 |
| Technical Fouls | 1 |
| Total Technical Fouls | 1 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 16 |
| Fast Break Points | 8 |
| Points in Paint | 26 |
| Fouls | 19 |
| Largest Lead | 11 |
| Lead Changes | 4 |
| Percent Led | 28 |
Indiana Fever — Team statistics
| FG | 37-71 |
|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 52 |
| 3PT | 8-21 |
| Three Point % | 38 |
| FT | 17-24 |
| Free Throw % | 71 |
| Rebounds | 34 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 11 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 23 |
| Assists | 22 |
| Steals | 5 |
| Blocks | 3 |
| Turnovers | 11 |
| Team Turnovers | 1 |
| Total Turnovers | 12 |
| Technical Fouls | 1 |
| Total Technical Fouls | 1 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 11 |
| Fast Break Points | 11 |
| Points in Paint | 58 |
| Fouls | 24 |
| Largest Lead | 15 |
| Lead Changes | 4 |
| Percent Led | 68 |